Dubai Racingwith theMX-Academy

Dubai racing covers far more than cars. You can watch camels with robot jockeys, horse racing at Meydan and desert rallies, or drive a race circuit yourself. Here is where each kind of racing happens and how you can take part.

Dubai Autodrome in MotorCityCamel racing at Al MarmoomMain racing season in the cooler monthsAround six hours' flight from Switzerland

Motocross Dubai Desert ride Dubai

Dubai racing: three GT race cars in white, silver and yellow liveries take a bend on the circuit — Photo: Hindol Bhattacharya, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dubai Autodrome: motor racing in Dubai you can try

The Dubai Autodrome was completed in 2004 as part of the MotorCity development in the greater Dubailand area. Its FIA-sanctioned circuit is 5.39 km long and can be used in six different layouts. Over the years it has hosted international series such as the FIA GT Championship and the European Touring Car Championship, and it is the home of the 24H Dubai, an endurance race for sports cars and touring cars that has been held there since 2006.

You do not have to stay in the grandstand. The Autodrome offers driving experiences in race and sports cars, passenger hot laps, a race school and open track days for cars and for motorbikes. Each format has its own requirements, so read them before you book. The site also has indoor and outdoor kart tracks, which we cover in our guide to karting in Dubai.

If your trip includes Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, which has hosted the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, has its own driving and passenger experiences. With a valid permanent driving licence you can drive a single-seat race car yourself, following an instructor, or you sit in the passenger seat while a professional racing driver takes you round the circuit.

Dubai Autodrome: view from the grandstand over the finish straight, pit buildings and a tower in the distance — Photo: Curtis Palmer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Motocross in the dunes of Dubai: two riders on motocross bikes with sand spraying up behind them

MX-Academy Dubai

Ride the dunes yourself

In a 4x4, on a quad or in a buggy you see the desert – on a motocross bike you ride it. MX-Academy Dubai, the school of Chris Möckli and Mohammed Al Balooshi, takes you into the dunes on a guided desert ride in Dubai.

On the handlebars yourself instead of in the passenger seat
First the basics on the training track: riding standing up and in sand
Bike and a full set of protective gear for hire
Experienced desert riders as your guides, on a date of your choice

Desert ride Dubai Motocross training in Dubai

Camel racing in Dubai at Al Marmoom

Camel racing is a traditional sport in the Emirates, and in Dubai you can watch it at Al Marmoom, near the road to Al Ain. The riders are small robot jockeys. They took over after the United Arab Emirates banned child jockeys, and today the robots are operated by remote control while the owners follow their camels in four-wheel-drive vehicles along the track.

The season runs from autumn to spring, and race days start early in the morning. For a visitor, it is a fascinating mix of old and new: the camels, the dust and the convoy of cars racing alongside. Visit Dubai lists the venue as the Dubai Camel Race Track at Al Marmoom.

Camel racing in Dubai: camels with small robot jockeys on their backs rest beside a red track rail — Photo: Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dubai racing on horseback: Meydan and endurance rides

Horse racing in Dubai centres on Meydan Racecourse, which has both a turf track and a dirt course. The Dubai Racing Carnival season is held there, and Dubai World Cup night brings the racing season to a close. Race nights at Meydan combine the sport with dining and a social atmosphere around the track.

Endurance riding is the long-distance side of horse sport. Riders cover set distances, such as 120 or 160 km, in stages, and after each stage a vet checks every horse; only horses judged fit to continue may carry on. In Dubai these rides take place at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Al Salam, where a new season starts each autumn.

Dubai racing on horseback: a field of horses and jockeys gallops along a sandy track past advertising boards — Photo: Imadkayyali, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dubai racing in the desert: rallies and motocross

The Dubai International Baja is a cross-country rally organised by EMSO, the governing body for motor racing in the United Arab Emirates, and sanctioned by the FIA and the FIM. It has counted towards the FIA World Baja Cup for cars and the FIM Baja World Cup for motorbikes and quads. Routes change from edition to edition and have included a prologue in Hatta and stages in the dunes of Al Qudra, so check the official website for the route and the spectator areas.

On two wheels, Dubai has also hosted motocross and EnduroCross races on purpose-built desert tracks, where riders jump and battle side by side while spectators watch from close by. If you want to enter yourself, check the current calendar and entry rules with the organisers before you travel.

Motor racing in Dubai on two wheels: two motocross riders jump side by side as spectators watch beside the track

Planning a trip around Dubai racing

Race calendars in Dubai change from year to year, and many events are concentrated in the cooler part of the year. If you want to build a holiday around a particular race, confirm the dates on the official website of the venue or organiser before you book flights, and keep a spare day in case of changes.

Camel racing: plan an early start, as races begin in the morning
Meydan: check the race-night programme and ticket options in advance
Dubai Autodrome: check which weekends have live racing on the calendar
Desert events: bring sun protection, water and closed shoes
Loud events: ear plugs make a long day at the track more comfortable

Dubai racing from the saddle: ride the desert yourself

Watching is exciting, but riding in the sand yourself is another story. Chris Möckli, two-time European champion (IMBA Openclass 2004 and 2005), is the MX-Academy's founder and owner and runs MX-Academy Dubai together with Mohammed Al Balooshi. Both are experienced motocross and rally riders and know the local terrain. A desert ride on a motocross or enduro bike gives you a first-hand feel for the sand that rally riders deal with.

Pick the date that suits your trip; it is around six hours by plane from Switzerland. Some guests book the complete MX package, while others arrange their own flight and accommodation and only ask the MX-Academy for the riding. Everything about motocross in Dubai is on the MX-Academy Dubai pages.

Dubai racing in the desert: three riders in race gear pose on red motocross bikes on rippled sand

FAQ: Dubai Racing

Where is the Dubai Autodrome?

It is part of the MotorCity development in the greater Dubailand area of Dubai. The site includes the main circuit, a race school and indoor and outdoor kart tracks.

Do camels really race with robot jockeys in Dubai?

Yes. Since the UAE banned child jockeys, camels race with small robot jockeys operated by remote control, while their owners drive alongside the track.

Where is the Dubai World Cup held?

At Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Dubai World Cup night is the flagship race meeting that closes the Dubai racing season.

Can I drive on the Dubai Autodrome circuit myself?

Yes. The Autodrome offers driving experiences in race and sports cars, passenger hot laps and open track days for cars and motorbikes, each with its own requirements.

What is endurance riding?

It is long-distance horse racing over set distances, such as 120 or 160 km, ridden in stages. A vet checks each horse after every stage, and only horses that are fit to continue may go on.

Can you drive on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Yas Marina Circuit offers driving experiences in a single-seat race car, for which you need a valid permanent driving licence, and passenger rides with a professional racing driver at the wheel.